Last Day in the Big Apple

My last day in New York was a beautiful sunny spring morning, so I decided to spend it in Manhattan again, and explore the history of immigration here through Ellis Is. 

First I had to learn the language to tackle the train system here without a guide..........taking the MTA LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) to Penn Station, and then the AC or 1 Downtown....piece of cake!

I didn’t realize Penn Station was the conjunction of the NJT (New Jersey Transit) and AMTRAK as well as the LIRR. It is absolutely CAVERNOUS, taking up two entire blocks. I kid you not, there were even 2 lost, low flying and clearly terrified pigeons down there in the maze! I had to answer the call of nature, and it took several attempts for the Dunkin Donuts lady to understand I meant the baaithroom, and a few more for me to understand the directions. Heaven forbid if I didn’t speak English and was in dire need!! 

Found my way down to the World Trade Centre site, to check out the place after bin Laden’s demise. It’s kind of weird to see so many celebrating a death, but it’s interesting being so close to the raw emotion of those affected. New construction is well under way... New Yorkers won’t be kept down.

Hopped onto the ferry, past the old lady of liberty, still standing sentinel in all her splendour, to Ellis Island. The immigration building here, built in 1892, is really quite beautiful, tiled arched ceilings, light filtering through arched windows....The audio as you walk through, combined with the photographic display, is haunting, asking you to put yourself in the place of the thousands who passed through here, full of hope, of fear, of excitement.....and of desperation if they were rejected...

Up to 3,500 were processed a day, right up until the 1950’s, and 40% of the American population can trace their heritage through these gates to the American Dream.

Found time for a spot of shopping - it is a shopper’s dream, brand names everywhere, at ridiculous prices. Nice to have some new clothes after 4 months, to swan around London.  Cannot wait!